CUNY admits adjuncts are being paid late. Council members raised adjunct pay at two hearings this year

Many of CUNY's part-time professors are still not getting paid on time, and the university acknowledges it, The City Reporter reported. Some adjuncts say they are owed more than $10,000.

Why it matters to residents: adjuncts teach a large share of CUNY's classes, including many evening courses for working students. CUNY employs about 11,000 part-time faculty and just under 7,000 full-time faculty, the outlet reported. That makes 52% of its instructional staff part-time, compared with a national average of 40%.

What the reporting found

The Professional Staff Congress, the faculty union, has received 110 complaints about late pay this semester. Using payroll data, it counted just over 1,000 late paychecks in spring 2025, almost all at senior colleges. A separate union grievance, joined by more than 50 adjuncts, seeks extra pay for "jumbo" courses with 90 or more students.

CUNY spokesperson Noah Gardy said the university "values the dedication of its adjunct professors" and has worked to reduce payroll delays. CUNY blames late paperwork at individual colleges. Lynne Turner, a union vice president and LaGuardia adjunct, said "late paychecks are the tip of the iceberg." Senior college payroll also runs through the state comptroller, which adds a step, the outlet noted.

What our records add

Council members have asked about this. At the Higher Education Committee's preliminary budget hearing on March 20, Council Member Phil Wong said adjuncts he had met complained about their hours and pay. He asked about turnover and working conditions. A CUNY official replied that faculty pay is set by the union contract. He said adjuncts are treated "like every other faculty" member and that he would like to know more about the conditions Wong meant (transcript). They agreed to follow up after the hearing.

At a Workforce Development hearing on Feb. 27, a Council member said they hear "all the time" from CUNY adjuncts who struggle to make ends meet. An official answered that CUNY's last contract with the union included raises for adjuncts (transcript).

No bill on adjunct pay. Our records show no Council bill this term on adjunct pay or payroll timing. Much of CUNY's senior college budget comes from the state. The Higher Education Committee, chaired by Council Member Rita Joseph, has four items pending. It last met Oct. 20 on the state's Seal of Civic Readiness.

What's next

CUNY says it will step up reminders to department chairs about payroll deadlines, The City Reporter reported. The jumbo-course grievance is still open. The Higher Education Committee's next listed meeting is Nov. 17, and its agenda hasn't been posted. The Council will question CUNY on its budget again at preliminary budget hearings next spring.